Agency Type:

Funding Source:

LOI Date:

Deadline Date:

Description:

Grants of up to $15,000 to Ohio nonprofits and government agencies for a wide range of programs and projects that benefit those living in Shelby County or its surrounding areas. Applicants must first contact program staff and then be invited to apply. Preliminary proposals are due by February 8, 2018.

Many types of projects may be considered for Community Grants. The Foundation typically looks for several of the following key elements in applications:
- Serves a large number of Shelby County residents
- If ongoing, the project can be sustained after the grant is exhausted
- An unduplicated program/project
- Diversity in those who are served
- Prevention of illnesses or societal problems

Please note that requests in excess of $5,000 are considered Impact Grants and will be viewed more stringently.

Impact Grants will be evaluated as follows:
- The request must be specific. What equipment, event, programming, etc., is the grant being asked to support?
- An innovative, new concept or process
- Meets a need not fully met by existing programs
- Affects an underserved population
- Impacts a growing need in the community
- Is sustainable by the organization after the grant is exhausted
- Is not replacement of existing capital equipment
- Has sufficient data or statistics to verify the request.

Larger requests may require a site visit or presentation to the committee.

The Community Impact Fund enables the Board to have complete discretion over grants. The Roscoe Beanblossom Fund provides grants that support needy and worthy Shelby County youth. The John Douglas Long Blind Fund benefits Shelby County residents affected or afflicted by blindness or seriously impaired eyesight. The Shelby County Medical Services Fund supports medical needs.

Applicants do not need to address their requests to a specific fund. The Distribution committee will decide
which fund can appropriately support a request.

GrantWatch ID#:

GrantWatch ID#: 178332

Estimated Size of Grant:

Grants may be in any amount up to $15,000. Requests in excess of $5,000 are considered Impact Grants and will be viewed more stringently.

Term of Contract:

In general, The Community Foundation of Shelby County awards grants for one year. In selected instances, multi-year grants may be considered. An application seeking multi-year support must meet the following conditions:

1. Demonstrate that multi-year support is essential to the start-up of a new initiative.
2. Demonstrate that the effort will produce specific, measurable outcomes within the agreed-upon time period.
3. Agree to participate in a formal annual evaluation to document and measure the proposed outcomes.

Eligibility:

Additional Eligibility Criteria:

Governmental agencies and not-for-profit organizations designated 501(c)(3) by the Internal Revenue
Service which are physically located in or serving Shelby County, Ohio and surrounding areas are eligible to
apply for a grant.

Consideration will be given to not-for-profit organizations that do not have a 501(c)(3) status, but are incorporated in the State of Ohio, so long as the grant proposal is for charitable purposes that fit within the Foundation guidelines and IRS regulations.

Additional documentation will be required from organizations that do not have a 501(c)(3) status. If a fiscal agent (a 501(c)(3) or governmental entity) will be the payee to receive a grant, please list the entity’s name and EIN on the Preliminary Proposal form.

There are restrictions on the scope of activities the Foundation is able to support. In general, The
Community Foundation does not typically make grants from its discretionary funds for:

- General operating expenses of existing organizations
- Individuals
- Religious organizations for religious purposes (programs open to non-members may be accepted)
- Political organizations or political action committees for political purposes
- Endowments
- Specific scientific, medical or academic research
- Annual fund raising campaigns from existing organizations

Pre-Application Information:

To apply for a grant, please follow these steps:
1. Call or email the Executive Director to discuss your grant request idea and whether your project appears to fit within the Foundation’s guidelines. Preliminary Proposals and Full Proposals will not be accepted if they have not been requested by the Executive Director.

2. Complete an online Preliminary Grant Proposal form by February 8. Printed forms will not be accepted. Preliminary Proposals must be submitted through the online application, linked below in Contact Information.

3. If the Distribution Committee would like to learn more about your project, you will be asked to submit a Full Proposal by March 22.

4. The Distribution Committee may ask for additional information, an interview or a site visit, if necessary.

5. Final decisions will be made by the Board of Trustees at their April meeting and applicants will be notified by mailed letter soon thereafter.